buta4 wrote:
valhalla360 wrote:
When the AC on the boat died, we tried one (still using it actually). Figured $300 for a portable vs $1500 for a marine unit, it was worth an experiment.
- You do need a window to put the hose thru. We used the dremel to shape it to fit a window.
- I would definetly recomend the 2 hose units. It doesn't cool nearly as well as the old marine unit and I believe it is related to exhausing already cooled air which sucks in warm air from outside. Of course the 2 hose units are significantly more expensive.
- Noise: Not significantly different than the roof AC in the trailer.
- It does take up a good deal of space.
- Draining the condensation is not an issue. It drains across the exhaust fan and gets flung out with the exhaust air (we have a heat mode and for some reason that did require draining the reservoir once or twice a day)
The draining the water issue is relevant. However, my model had a water collection tank on the bottom of it. Not familiar with a two-hose system. Either way it has to be accounted for.
It also had air intake from inside the vehicle with no input hose involved. It just took inside air thru a vent near top of the unit, filtered it and cooled it.
We have a single hose system with a collection tank:
- With the same BTU it doesn't cool nearly as well as the old unit and I believe it is because it is exhausting already cooled air out and that means warm outside air is coming in from any crack or crevice it can.
- Even with the single hose setup, there has never been condensation in the tank. I would suggest looking for a model that does this as you would be amazed how much water can get pulled out of the air.
